Politics through the prism of indie cinema
In addition to “Bang Bang Club,” the Tribeca Film Festival is offering a few more films — both features and documentaries — in which politics become personal.
‘Cairo Exit’
Just months after the democratic revolution in Egypt comes this Egyptian feature about one girl’s struggle to choose her fate. As Alma sees friends suffering in poverty in Cairo, she must decide to escape to Italy with her Muslim boyfriend or stay with her Coptic Orthodox Christian parents in her home country.
‘Love During Wartime’
This documentary could be ripped from the headlines. It’s about star-crossed lovers, Israeli-Jewish Jasmin and Palestinian-Muslim Osama, facing incredible hurdles as they relocate to Germany. Each pours their frustration into creative projects, with awe-inspiring results.
‘Koran by Heart’
You could say it’s the “Spellbound” of the Middle East. This documentary captures children preparing for the world’s pre-eminent Koran recitation competition. It’s a memorization of a 600-page text, so maybe it’s a little harder than a spelling bee.
Follow Heidi Patalano on Twitter at @HeidiatMetro.
